WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- The No. 10-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team dropped its 2012 season opener, falling to No. 2 North Carolina, 5-1, in the first game of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Saturday afternoon (Aug. 25) at Wake Forest's Kentner Stadium.

The Tar Heels, the NCAA runner-up in 2011, held a sizable 21-2 advantage in shots, including 12 on goal, and outcornered Michigan, 9-2. UNC took advantage of an early start, scoring two goals in the first half and building up a three-goal advantage before adding a pair of insurance tallies late.

Trailing three goals midway through the second half, junior/sophomore Sammy Gray(Wilmette, Ill./North Shore Country Day School) notched the Wolverines' lone goal on the direct shot off a penalty corner at the 56:13 mark. Senior Liesl Morris(Lafayette, N.J./The Taft School) and junior/sophomore Leslie Smith(Hummelstown, Pa./Hershey HS) earned assists on the stop and the push, respectively.

The Tar Heels responded with back-to-back deflection goals from J Gaudioso Radvancy in the final 10 minutes to put the game away.

The Wolverines will wrap up play at the ACC/Big Ten Challenge tomorrow (Sunday, Aug. 26), taking the field against host Wake Forest at 11:30 a.m. at Kentner Stadium.